Split casing spider



1929- R. R. HALL ET AL SPLIT CASING SPIDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct '24, 192"! 22 L I H I T- z III:

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SPLIT CASING SPIDER Filed 0ct-.24, 2 eets-Sheet 2 .E'mvssr C4 PE Cuwnvrsav J4TTORNEX Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES RALPH RANDOLPH HALL AND ERNEST CLARE CULBERTSON, OF VENTURA, CALIFORNIA. I

SPLIT CASING SPIDER.

Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,305.

This ,invention relates to casing spiders for use on oil or waterwells when running easing into the holes or when pulling the same, these spiders being employed in conjunction with the usual slips tosupport the casing string during the intervals of connecting or disconnecting joints, as well as at other times. v

As now commonly employed, casing spiders are of one piece construction, and since the bores therethrough are necessarily too small to pass the casing head, valves and the like, it has been necessary to remove the latter adjuncts before the spiders could be removed from the casing. The removal of the mentioned parts is always objectionable aswell as a time-consuming operation, and very frequently is decidedly a disadvantage. Likewise, there are times when it would be highly desirable if the spider could he slipped quickly into position in order to temporarily suspend the casing, for instance, if some difliculty is suddenly encountered, as is often the case. p Y

'A primary object of this invention there fore is to provide a splitspider which thus may be easily removed from the well casing without necessitating the removal of the casing head, valves and other associated parts.

Another important object is to present to the industry a spider which may be quickly placed about and secured to a casing string at anytime in order to suspend the casing temporarily in the event of an emergency and without in any manner disturbing the casing head, connections or valves.

A further object is to furnish a split spider, which is strong and durable for all purposes, which is economical of manufac-' ture even in comparison with one piece structurcs, and which has none of the disad vantages of such one piece structures while at the same time offering special advantages above indicated. Broadly stated, the invention comprises a spider of two sections having means for securely and rigidly but separably securing them together for the purpose of support in g well casing in conjunction. with the usual slips. More specifically, the securing means is in the form of interfitting parts together with binding means. In a preferred form, the interfittingparts are tongues and grooves which dovetail together, and wedgev moval. The invention further resides in. suclrother novel features as maybe herein presented. v

In the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is disclosed by way of illustration. V

Fig. 1' is chiefly an elevation showing the relation of the split spider to a well casing and elevator and to the structure about th well when the spider is in use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the split spider in operative position and with slips in position therein for receiving and supporting a string of easing; I

Fig. 3 is chiefly an elevational view taken along the interface of the assembled spider as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing how the tongues of the one member of the spider are disposed'along with the y wedges in operative relation in the grooves or recesses 1n the other member;

Fig. 4 1s a cross section taken on the line tel ofFig.3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the recessed or female member;

Fig. 6 is an elevation thereof somewhat similar to that of Fig. 3 but with the other parts omitted;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tongue-carryingor. male member;

Fig. 8 is an elevation thereof; and

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are respectively side, edge and end views of one ofthe wedges.

The split spider shown comprises the male or tongue-carrying member 12 and the female or grooved member '14, which members, when in assembled relation as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are adapted to be carried by the usual timbers T of the structure commonly disposed about a well, and are adapted to support a string of well easing C which as shown is connected to be raised or lowered through the medium of a casing elevator E and other wellknown mechanisms associated therewith. Each of the members 12 and 14 is formed with a semi-circular tapered halfbore 15, and these together provide a tapered bore adapted to receive the usual toothed or serrated slips S which have the handling bails or rings It, the taper of the bore forcing the slips into supporting engagement with the casing walls.

In the preferred form shown, the me1nhere 12 and 1e are of equal length and the ends of the both rest upon the timbers T to which the load is thus transferred. The male member 12 carries near each end a tongue 16 one of the corresponding bevelled faces 18 of each of the recesses or grooves 19 provided in the female member 1%. These tongues and grooves may be approximately one-half the height of the members, asshown, and theproportions thereofare such that the lower ends of the tongues 16 rest upon the lower or bottom walls 20 of the grooves '19 when in operative position.

\Vhen the parts have been thus assembled,

however by the tightening action of the wedges 22. In order that the spider may be conveniently handled, the bolts 25 are made to perform the further function of carrying clevises or bails 26 which may be engaged by lifting hooks or the like when necessary.

In order to positively dislodge the wedges 22 from their operative positions when it is desired to remove the spider from a casing, pins 30 passing through holes 31 are provided on, their inner ends with eccentrics 82 which work in pockets 33 beneath the grooves 19. The outer ends of the pins 30 are squared at 34 for engagement by a wrench whereby the eccentrics may be retated into driving engagement with the lower or inner endsof the wedges 22 so as to force them from their seats, whereupon they maybe withdrawn easily.

To remove the spider, it is merely necessary to remove the bolts 25, to dislodge and remove the wedges 22 as just described, and

then to lift the male member 12 from the female member 1 1, whereupon said members together with the slips S will be entirely disengaged from the casing. By a simple reversal of this operation, the spider ma be quickly installed about the casing in orc or to suspend the same fora time in the well. This operation consists simply in placing the member 1 1 against the casing, dropping the member 12 into place therein so that the tongues 16 enter the grooves 19, driving the wedges 22 into position, and placing the slips S and the clevises 26 with bolts 25. Then as the weight of the casing lowered upon. the slips, the taper of the bore 15 feeds thev slips into supporting en gagement with the casing.

Thus it is clear, that the split spider of the present invention may be quickly and easily applied to a well casing and as quickly and easily removed therefrom, thus offering the great advantage of making it an emergency tool.

I claim: 7

1. A split spider for well'casing comprising two separable members having a bore between them to receive a casing, dovetailed inter-fitting tongues and grooves carried by said members, the tongues being narrower than the grooves, and means disposed be tween walls of the tongues and walls of the grooves to bind the members together. 2. A split spider for supporting well casing comprising a female member having a vertical groove provided with edge and bot? tom walls, a male member having a tongue adapted to engage in said groove and having a bottom wall adapted to engage upon the bottom wall of the groove, means adapted to be forced into position between a wall of the groove and the tongue to retain the parts, said female member having a pocket therein below said groove, an eccentric positioned. in said pocket to engage said means to dislodge the same, and a pin carrying said eccentric and projecting from the member for actuation of the eccentric.

3. A split spider comprising two separable members having dovetailed interfitting connections, and wedge means adapted to be driven into said connections to retain the parts in operative relation, said members having between them a tapered here to receive slips for engaging and supporting a casing.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

RALPH It. HALL. ERNEST CLARE CULBERTSON. 

